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December 19, 2006 |
Bridges4Kids
NewsDigest Topics
| • Disability News | |
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• No Child Left Behind (NCLB) |
• Special Education Issues |
| • Ask the Attorney/Advocate | |
| • Upcoming National Events | |
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Coming to Grips with Harassment & Bullying (PDF) http://www.nsba.org/site/docs/39100/39055.pdf Parents and advocacy groups are delivering a loud message to school officials and other policymakers that children should not have to endure ugly bullying at school as an inevitable rite of passage. School boards have gotten the message and have been busily tweaking codes of student conduct, adopting or revising board policies, and approving new initiatives.
Juvenile Law Center Opens Website
Just For Youth Do Corporations Peddle Junk Science to School Kids? http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/opinion/16154600.htm The oil industry, the coal
industry and other corporate interests are exploiting shortfalls in education
funding by using a small slice of their record profits to buy themselves a
classroom soapbox, through textbooks, classroom posters and teacher seminars.
Students should expect, and parents should demand, that educators present an
honest and unbiased look at the true state of knowledge about the challenges of
the day, writes Laurie David, the producer of documentary "An Inconvenient
Truth." In the meantime, Mom and Dad may want to keep a sharp eye on their kids'
science homework.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/MIRS12-12-06.html After nearly two years of study, public comments and four drafts, and further fine-tuning of the policies today, the State Board of Education unanimously adopted state standards to guide schools in the emergency use of seclusion and restraint of students.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/SeclusionRestraintStandards12.12.06.pdf
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612080435 Bereaved mom at odds with state.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/Newsday11-29-06.html State school officials are moving toward sweeping new restrictions on the use of shock therapy and detention rooms for special-education students, in response to complaints by some Long Island parents that such disciplinary techniques were being abused.
http://www.nysun.com/article/43827 According to a new study, uncertified teachers end up performing just as well in the classroom as certified teachers and alternatively trained teachers. The study's results appear to challenge requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind Act that every classroom have a "highly qualified" teacher, instead suggesting that schools should put more emphasis on weeding out bad apples after the teachers have been hired. While alternatively certified and uncertified teachers do worse at first, they appear to improve at faster rates than traditionally certified teachers and by the teachers' third year on the job, students of alternatively certified and uncertified teachers are performing just as well as those of traditionally certified teachers.
Bridges4Kids Featured Resource: Girls Incorporated http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=1 A national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Girls Inc. develops research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges. Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation. Programs are offered through a network of 1,000 sites nationwide and are facilitated by trained professional staff.
Textercise books are sold as a
series of illustrated Master copies in paper format or in .pdf format which can
be copied back to back then mid-stapled to make workbooks. When a purchaser buys
a set of Textercise Book masters they can produce as many individual books as
they wish. The books combine the formal qualities of a textbook with the more
informal qualities of an exercise book to produce a “Textercise Book” with
spaces provided for pupils to record their answers to the questions asked, to
make comments and even to record points made during class discussion. Book
topics include: Manners Bullying, Jobs and Career Information, Business and
Science. They come in Standard and Simpler formats. Textercise is located in the
UK, but ships internationally. |
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No Child Left Behind (NCLB) |
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Meeting the Spirit of AYP Through School Reform: Cohesion, Coordination, and Alignment Lead to Student Achievement http://www.cenmi.org/focus/curriculum/nov06/article-06-09.asp This FOCUS on Results document offers information on why cohesion, coordination, and alignment of critical subsystems are essential for student achievement. This article looks at how the five subsystems work together to support student learning within and across programs through the process of educational change, systemic reform, and re-culturing.
For more information on No Child Left Behind, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/ESEA.html
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Parenting/Parental Involvement |
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Feeling Invisible to Your Kids? Try Keeping Quiet http://www.earlychildhoodmichigan.org/articles/Phelan11-06.htm If you're a parent living with small children, you may often feel like you're invisible to your kids. After spending a day cajoling, reasoning, threatening and even screaming in an attempt to get your kids to behave, you may feel as if you simply didn't exist. But all that talking is precisely the problem. If you feel like you're invisible, you're probably way too audible.
“You’re so smart. Why don’t you just do it?” http://www.bridges4kids.org/pdf/behavioral.fluency.pdf Does the title sound familiar? How many times parents have we thought this about our child, and maybe even said this to our child? Probably more times than we care to admit! Think of the child who can state that he should hand in his homework but chronically fails to do so, or the child who goes to her room with every intention of getting dressed for school, only to still be in her pajamas 20 minutes later! This article will attempt to explain why “just doing it” is more complicated than it may seem and how we can help children learn to “do it.”
Parenting Information Handouts http://www.parenting-ed.org/parenting_handouts.htm Dozens of handouts containing information on General Parenting Information, Specific Concerns/Problems, Discipline/Intervention Strategies, Injury Prevention, Parental Involvement in Education, and Children’s Development.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp? z=y&endeca=1&isbn=159486554X&itm=8 In this delightful book by Bernie Siegel, MD, one of America's most beloved and best-selling authors shares new gems of his trademark wit, wisdom, and thoughtful advice with parents of all ages.
Bridges4Kids
Featured Website:
On this website you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as the small icon of a house. Red, blue, and green dots are shown surrounding your entire neighborhood. These dots represent different types of crimes. When you click on these dots a picture of a person will appear with an address and the description of the crime he or she had committed. Another tool to help us keep our kids safe.
For more information on Parenting, Siblings, Adoption and Foster Care, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Parenting.html
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Terrific
Transitions: Supporting Children's Transition to Kindergarten Great New Teaching Resources from Gryphon House Find useful and creative ideas for any situation in all of these great new books. |
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Recent recalls include Children's Butterfly Necklaces Recalled by U.S. Toy Co. Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard; Lifetime Brands Inc. Recalls Lemonade Jars For Lead Exposure Hazard; and Children's "Powerpuff Girls" Necklaces Recalled Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard.
Government Considers Banning Lead in Children's Jewelry Fall 2006 Issue of the Key Player Packet Newsletter (PDF) http://www.arcmi.org/Fall2006KeyPlayerPacket.pdf
For more information on Early Childhood issues, visit www.EarlyChildhoodMichigan.org
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Nowhere To Go: The Devastating Journey of Youth Expelled From Michigan Schools http://www.bridges4kids.org/NowhereToGo.pdf Updated Zero Tolerance Report by the All Kids in School Coalition
Request for Public Comment: Least Restrictive Environment http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/MDE12-06.html This is a request for public comment on Michigan's proposed targets relative to services for students with disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
More School Districts Falling Into Deficit http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/11-06/gongwer.nov.25.html The number of public school districts in deficit spending has doubled in the last three fiscal years, as has the number of districts carrying less than 15 percent of their revenue in a fund balance, a magic number for cash flow.
Because of recent changes, you (or someone you know) may now be eligible for food assistance benefits even if you have been denied benefits in the past. The Center for Civil Justice offers a free, confidential statewide helpline to answer questions about the program rules and to estimate how much a caller would receive if he/she applied for food stamps. The Center serves both English and Spanish-speaking callers. Call the toll-free helpline at 1-800-481-4989.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/mcctf11-1-06.html "There are roughly 19,000 children in the Michigan child welfare system. The lawsuit names children with case examples of child welfare system failures."
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Surviving the Holiday Season http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/11-06/social.skills.html The holiday season, full of joy and cheer, is just around the corner. But for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, the class parties, family get-togethers and other gatherings that so many of us look forward to at this time of year are fraught with scary social interactions and sensory overload.
Proof is Scant on Psychiatric Drug Mix for Young http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/11-06/harris.nytimes.nov.html Billy and Jackie Igafo-Te’o of Jackson, Mich., are among the desperate. In the last seven years, their 12-year-old son, Michael, “has been on just about everything you can put a child on,” Mrs. Igafo-Te’o said. He is now taking four drugs and has damaged their home so often that they no longer repair it. "We always debate meds," said Billy Igafo-Te'o.
When Kids Network Online: The Benefits and Risks http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1120 In this article, we will address the risks and benefits of social networking online for kids in general and, more specifically, for kids with learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). We will also explain how you can enhance your child’s online interactions.
http://www.whale.to/vaccine/olmsted1.html But thousands of children cared for by Homefirst Health Services in metropolitan Chicago have at least two things in common with thousands of Amish children in rural Lancaster: They have never been vaccinated. And they don't have autism. "We have a fairly large practice. We have about 30,000 or 35,000 children that we've taken care of over the years, and I don't think we have a single case of autism in children delivered by us who never received vaccines," said Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, Homefirst's medical director who founded the practice in 1973."
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/DDI12-06.html You are invited to participate in a survey that is being conducted by the Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State University. This survey will help the Institute in developing its next 5-year plan.
Learning Self-Advocacy Skills http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/11-06/advocacy.coulter.html What's the most
important skill a high school student with Asperger Syndrome or autism
can learn before he or she graduates? Run a list of candidate skills
through your head. It's a good exercise. Was self-advocacy on your
short list? I think I can make a good case that it should be. Get Real http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/12-06/Coulter12-06.html Will next year be better for you and your kids with special needs? "Gosh, I hope so," I hear you say. Me too. I want things to get better every year. With two kids who have special needs, some years have been tough for our family. Recently, even with new challenges, things have been pretty darn good.
Occupational Therapy for Adolescents With Autism (PDF) http://www.aota.org/nonmembers/area1/autism/dd%20june%2001.pdf There are several
factors to consider when providing services to students and young
adults with autism. First, it is important to understand autism and
typical development, as adolescents with autism experience the same
physical, emotional, and hormonal changes as their typical peers.
Youth with autism often experience changes in cognitive and social
behavior at puberty, including reduced attention, frustration
tolerance, and self-inhibition, which negatively impacts upon their
occupational performance.
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http://www.bridges4kids.org/PBS/fba.htm For a discussion of issues related to "adequacy" of FBAs and BIPs synthesized from recent research, visit http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/advocacyinaction/Behavior_Intervention_Plans.shtml A publication containing basic information for those interested in learning more about FBA and effective intervention can be downloaded at http://www.tucsonlinks.org/elearning/pdf/fba.pdf It is a very nice FREE publication in PDF format written by Carl Liaupsin.
http://www.fetaweb.com/02/mistakes.parents.crabtree.htm Because the stakes are so high, it is difficult for parents of children with special educational needs to advocate calmly and objectively for the educational and related services their children need.
District Takes Care Labeling 'Learning Disabled' http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=116553613114540800 The Tigard-Tualatin School District is a state and national leader in a new method known as Response to Intervention (RTI) used to identify learning disabled students. In the past, identifying and labeling a child as “learning disabled” involved finding the “point discrepancy” between a reading test score and an IQ score. However, the discrepancy number chosen is arbitrary with no consistent agreement between districts. Also, because many professional believe that a child has to be at least 9 years old before he can be tested, the “discrepancy approach” left many students struggling without help until they began to fail in the third or fourth grade. But, in Tigard and Tualatin, the points don’t matter.
http://idea.ed.gov/object/fileDownload/model/Presentation/field/PresentationFile/primary_key/13
To provide
the public with an overview of the Part B Final Regulations
implementing the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, the U.S. Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has been hosting a series of
community-based public meetings. The PowerPoint presentation given by
Alexa Posny, director of OSERS’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP),
is available online. It covers discipline, Response to Intervention,
IEPs, monitoring, highly qualified teachers, private schools, the
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), and
procedural safeguards. For more information on Special Education, IEPs and Section 504, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Rules.html
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Ask the Attorney/Advocate |
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Bridges4Kids Exclusive: Ask the Attorney with John Brower Visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/AA.html for dozens of John's previously posted Q&As.
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These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of National events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html
Resources for Children with
Special Needs, Inc.'s 22nd Annual Free Special Camp Fair
The Down Syndrome Family Support and Advocacy Group of Michiana present Strategies for Teaching Children w/Down Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities WHEN: February 3, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: John Young
Middle School in Mishawaka, IN
Children Our Best
Investment
2007 Special Needs Sports
and Recreation Fair
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These are NEW calendar listings that have been added this week, along with events taking place this week. To view a complete calendar of Michigan events, visit http://www.bridges4kids.org/Conferences.html
2007 Early Childhood
Conference
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Bridges4Kids NewsDigest Staff
Deborah Canja
Chief Executive Officer
Director of Information Technology & Information
Systems
Bella Djordjevski
Resource Assistant
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